Building an “end of the line” scene or better perhaps, a scene where the track has been torn up, there are many little ways that you can make it an interesting, less modeled, effect. My friends would have a fit if they say a long, flat space on the benchwork where there was no track, even worse, a place where track had been, but I build scenery and run trains through it. A very satisfying
Building an “end of the line” scene or better perhaps, a scene where the track has been torn up, there are many little ways that you can make it an interesting, less modeled, effect. My friends would have a fit if they say a long, flat space on the benchwork where there was no track, even worse, a place where track had been, but I build scenery and run trains through it. A very satisfying endower in the larger scales.
This EOT picture was taken in Kelowna BC but there are plenty of others today so you shouldn’t avoid modelling a long, flat, grassy berm strewn with a few weeds, a lot of old ties and some wind blown papers. A bucket of rail spikes here and there wouldn’t go astray either. See photo 1
My choice would be to colour and hand lay the ties leaving the tie plates in place as in photo 4. The plates are available details in larger scales but if you can’t find any smaller ones the pattern of a tie plate can be taped off and painted in a bright rusted colour as apposed to the dusty gray-brown of the well-weathered tie. My choice would also be to leave behind some nicely coloured scale rail here and there so the non fans who visit will see what your modelling right away. An unused switch stand in the tall grass would be nice.
Just as an aside, I could never bring myself to paint the rails the colour of orange seen here. Not even in a seldom used siding or spur. I tried it on the public HO layout in Peachland. In scale, it just looks bad. Opt for burnt umber or even engine black, dust and Dullcoat. Then cover it with grass as much as possible so it doesn’t look bolder than your main line.
There is quite a scenery rebuild going on at www.centralokrailway.ca that you might be interested in. Doing whatever is possible with limited funds.